4’th of July 2011 morning edition

Workout notes I signed up to “run” the local 4’th of July Firecracker race. No, I wasn’t in shape for it; I had all but stopped running about 6 weeks ago and have done just a few “build up” walks for the 24 hour attempt last month and then laid off for almost two weeks after the Steamboat 15K walk.

That, plus the double red blood cell donation (I despise doing that!) plus starting too fast for my current conditioning lead to a horrible 30:09 finish. Basically, I started off way back in the pack (ok), weaved my way upward (stupid) then decided to follow Theresa and her purple spandex shorts with pantie lines. That was a mistake though we got to mile 1 in 9:00 (normally very slow for me, but not today). I was walking by 1.5 miles and basically did the old walk/jog to average 10 minute miles the rest of the way. I was out of breath.

BUT: the butt/piriformis only tingled a little; it IS better. So I can GRADUALLY ease in to training. Right now, running/jogging puts less stress on it so I’ll do that for a few weeks and then gradually introduce non-social walking. I’ll have to stay with the butt-work too (hip hikes, lunges).

Also, my weight is a problem. Sure, I weighed 193 two days ago, but that isn’t the same 193 that I weighed in 2003. I no longer have as much muscle mass; I am soft and fat at this weight at this time in my life. So I need to eat less.

Note: I counted exactly 7 runs since May 1, 2011. So the body just isn’t used to the motion; getting used to it will take a long time. I need to be patient.

Just in time for the July 4th weekend, the Marist Poll has asked Americans in which year the United States declared its independence. And, the result is many Americans need to brush up on their American history.

Only 58% of residents know that the United States declared its independence in 1776. 26% are unsure, and 16% mentioned another date.

There are age differences on this question. Younger Americans are the least likely to know the correct answer. Only 31% of adults younger than 30 say that 1776 is the year in which the United States broke away from Great Britain. 59% of residents between 30 and 44 report the same. Americans 45 to 59 — 75% — are the age group most likely to have the correct answer. Among those 60 and older, 60% report that 1776 is the year in which the United States declared its independence.

When it comes to gender, men — 65% — are more likely to respond with 1776 than are women — 52%.

And, for the second year, about one in four Americans doesn’t know from which country the United States declared its independence. While 76% correctly cite Great Britain, 19% are unsure, and 5% mention another country.

A comparable proportion of Americans were similarly informed at this time last year. At that time, 74% thought the United States declared its independence from Great Britain, 20% were unsure, and 6% mentioned another country.

80% of those 60 and older, 77% of those 45 to 59, and 77% of those between 30 and 44 report the nation’s founding fathers revolted against Great Britain. This compares with 67% of those under the age of 30 who say the same.

Men — 83% — are more likely than women — 68% — to know that the United States declared its independence from Great Britain.

I have to chuckle at the women versus men statistic: I wonder how the feminists will spin THIS one. 🙂

Under the tutelage of the estimable Eric MacDonald, I have spent several weeks reading Christian theology. And so far, I have learned only three things:

1. I am spending my middle age reading drivel about beliefs that have no basis in fact. This seems a total waste of time. I could be reading books about real things instead.

Uh…the rest of the points are irrelevant. Yes, I know, “sophisticated” theologians complain that books like The God Delusion attack unsophisticated theology (you know, the kind that the vast majority of believers subscribe to). But these “sophisticated” works are wastes of time; it is a bit like reading about sophisticated astrology or sophisticated “homeopathic medicine theory”. The final barb hits home:

I’m starting to think that modern theology is simply postmodern literary criticism applied to a single book of fiction.

Obama can win reelection without carrying 10021 or Greenwich in any case. The bigger political problem is that a far larger share of the American electorate views him as a tool of the very fat-cat elite that despises him. Given Obama’s humble background, his history as a mostly liberal Democrat, and his famous résumé as a community organizer, this would also seem a reach. But the president has no one to blame but himself for the caricature. While he has never lusted after money—he’d rather get his hands on the latest novel by Morrison or Franzen—he is an elitist of a certain sort. For all the lurid fantasies of the birthers, the dirty secret of Obama’s background is that the values of Harvard, not of Kenya or Indonesia or Bill Ayers, have most colored his governing style. He falls hard for the best and the brightest white guys.

It appears that he falls for the best and brightest Serious People while avoiding the advice of the Dirty Bearded Hippies. Nevertheless, President Obama is bound by political considerations: where was the support for progressive economic policies going to come from? Remember how the Senate is constructed: not only do they have the filibuster, but small conservative states hold disproportionate amount of power.

[…] above was taken at the 2011 4’th of July Firecracker race. I was racing T during those days; this time the weather came up sweltering (I do poorly in heat) and I had not recovered from my double red cell blood donation. But I saw her […]

About Blueollie

To keep track of my sports activities. I rarely train for anything anymore; mostly I just do workouts of the following types: running, walking, weight lifting and swimming. My best ultra accomplishment was walking 101 miles in 24 hours in 2004. These days, I walk a marathon every once in a while (5:50 to 7 hours) There was a time when I could run a sub 40 minute 10K (did that once), but that was another lifetime ago; these a days 2427-2825 25:50-27:45 minutes for a 5K would be more like it. I also have an off and on interest in yoga and in weight training. My lifetime PB in the bench is 310; currently I do sets of 4-5 with 190.

To discuss the football, basketball or baseball game I’ve been to. Since 2011, I started to attend live football games regularly (University of Illinois, sometimes Illinois State, sometimes either the Colts or Bears of the NFL…don’t get me started on the Rams) ; I’ve attended Bradley Basketball games (men and women) for some time. In the past 3 years, I started to watch live baseball again (mostly the Peoria Chiefs and Bradley University).

From time to time, I post what I am thinking about mathematically

I often post links to science articles, especially articles about cosmology and evolution.

I am very sympathetic to the “new atheist” movement, though some might consider me to be an agnostic. I reject any notion of a deity that interferes with physical events, but remain agnostic to the idea that there might be something “grand and wonderful” (Dawkins’ phrase) outside of our current spacetime continuum.

I am a liberal Democrat who thinks that the current social atmosphere is tilted way too far toward the interests of big business, and I reject the idea that a “free market” cures all ills, though pure socialism doesn’t work either. I am also a believer in the freedom of speech, including speech that I might not like. Also, I’ve been involved (to a moderate degree) with political campaigns, ranging from City Council races up to Presidential races.

I like to post photos of trips and vacations.

I like women in spandex. 🙂

The 2016 election: I voted for Hillary Clinton and was dismayed that she lost the Electoral College, though I take a bit of comfort that a plurality of voters preferred her (by just over 2 percentage points!)

I see Donald Trump as an unqualified amateur who lacks the humility and deportment to be an effective president; I sure hope the time proves me wrong. I’ve been wrong before (e. g. my election prediction) and will be wrong again. I hope this is one of those times.